Happy Birthday to Us!

Today is a very exciting day for Natasha F. Wayne Events. It's our first birthday! A year ago today, we signed our first wedding clients. Since then, we have been involved in three weddings, a dance marathon fundraiser, and a parade.

We've come a long way in a year. Thank you every one who has helped us this year and all our clients who took a chance on a small, start up event planning company

It's been a great year and we're looking forward to turning 2!

WE tv Wedding Mall Tour

Today the WE tv Wedding Mall Tour came to Streets of Southpoint Mall in Durham. Mark Ingram of WE tv was in attendance, shaking hands and offering tips to brides-to-be.

I met several awesome local vendors at the event as well. The first was David Cox of Arthur Murray Dance Studio. David recommends that couples begin taking dance lessons six months before their wedding days. The studio offers classes of all kinds of dance from the Argentine Tango to the Waltz. And dance classes aren't just for the bride and groom. The professionals at the studio are happy to help parents prepare for Mother/Son and Father/Daughter dances also.

I also met Theresa Syros of Celebration Photobooth. I had seen photo booths in bridal magazines before, but never been able to try one out. It was really a blast! The company offers photo booths for all kinds of events, including weddings. Someone from the company stays with the booth all times to troubleshoot any problems, so no one misses out on the fun. Guests can take photos in the booth all night long and post them to a memory book with their well wishes to the bride and groom. Celebration Photobooth is also available for birthdays, anniversaries, fundraisers...and just about any other event.

Quick Tip: Fabric Color Swatches

I got this little tip from a friend of mine who works in a bridal dress shop. When you get the color swatch of the fabric for your bridesmaids dresses, take the swatch to a paint store. Compare it to the paint sample cards until you find the closest match, then grab a bunch of them. Use these for the florist, to match shoes, or anytime you need to pick out items in the wedding colors. Pass out the cards and you'll never lose your original swatch.

You can also use paint samples when trying to decide what your wedding colors will be. Grab a bunch of samples that catch your eye and try matching them to each other. Mix and match your favorite cards before making your final orders. This will help keep you from being surprised by poorly matching colors on your big day.

Image courtesy of http://tangledeye.com/pages/plenty/paint_samples.html.

Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Patrick!

On September 19th, Angie and Jeremy got married! I loved working with them throughout the planning of thier wedding, and wish them all the happiness in the world.

Words from the Bride and Groom

"We knew from the start that we weren't interested in a long engagement, so we started looking into planning our wedding almost immediately after getting engaged. We had a vague idea of what we wanted our wedding to be like, but after diving into the world of planning, we were feeling quite overwhelmed. Fortunately, a friend referred us to Natasha. Natasha helped get us on track with a timeline of what needed to happen when, suggestions on where to get supplies, gathering venue information, taking care of the wedding decorations, and even helping us put together our DIY favors! Having Natasha as our wedding planner was SUCH a relief and a huge help. With only five months to plan, Natasha helped us have a BEAUTIFUL wedding that we've gotten tons of compliments on. Natasha got our wedding on track, has an abundance of knowledge in event planning, and was so easy to get along with! We highly recommend her!"

- Jeremy and Angie Patrick

Make It Your Own!

We all know that a wedding is the most important day in a couple's life. It should also be one of the most personal events of their lives also.

There are millions of ways to incorporate personal touches into a wedding. Personal touches aren't just making sure that your color theme is carried through everything from the bridesmaid dresses to the favors. It's adding those little things that scream "YOU!"

Using your own skills is a great way to put a personal touch on your wedding day. The centerpiece and favor to the right are from a wedding I attended last spring. The bride designed the artwork on the favor bag: two birds kissing under a heart. These love birds were tied into every part of the ceremony and reception from the save-the-date cards to the favor bags. In addition to the bird graphic, an ornamental bird cage was used to collect cards from guests on the gift table. By carrying the bird imagery throughout the wedding, the bride and groom put their own stamp on their big day.

Including a personal story is another great way to make your wedding say "you". The roses to the left are actually an example of how one couple was able to tie their history into their wedding. When the couple met, the groom wanted to bring the bride a gift on their first date. The groom taught himself how to make the origami roses seen here and took them to the bride as a gift. On their wedding day, the couple chose to share this part of their history with friends and family by making origami roses as favors. The roses are red and yellow to match the day's color scheme. In this way, the couple was able to both honor their own love story and share it with those they care for.

Remember that your wedding day is ultimately yours. It should reflect who you and your fiance's tastes and the little things that make you the couple you are.

Franklin Hotel's 2nd Annual Bridal Boutique

I went to the Franklin Hotel's 2nd Annual Bridal Boutique in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, yesterday. This was the first time I'd ever been inside the Franklin Hotel. The hotel itself is beautiful! The lobby is inviting

The expo featured some of the area's best vendors. I sampled foods from Saffron of Chapel Hill, an Indian restaurant in Chapel Hill. It was AMAZING! The flavors were astounding and really popped. I was shocked at variety flavors, spices, and just plain deliciousness of their dishes. I didn't expect so much flavor to be packed into such a small bite. Saffron offers catering for weddings and is willing to travel. If you don't use them for an event, definitely try out their restaurant. I'm sure you'll like it!

For desert I sampled cupcakes from The Chocolate Door on Franklin Street. I tried the Mayan truffle cupcake. SO delicious! The Chocolate Door can take any of their chocolate truffle flavors and turn them into cupcakes. They can also do truffles in a variety of colors to create favors for events.

The best thing about Saffron and The Chocolate Door, as well as almost all the other vendors at the Franklin Hotel Bridal Boutique? They're all local. What better way to add a personal touch to your wedding than by buying local and supporting your town?

Our First Event!

This was our first event as Natasha F. Wayne Events! It was a dance marathon fundraiser for UNC and Duke Children's Hospitals. We were hired by the Wake Forest-Rolesville Middle School SOS Club to assist with publicity, contracting, and logistics. The dance marathon took place on Friday, June 4, 2010 at The Factory in Wake Forest, North Carolina.

This was the line to get into the dance. People were waiting outside the building! Everyone was so excited!

The evening featured a laser light show during dancing.

Check out that crowd! The event drew over 500 students from the Wake County School District.

Here all the students are waiting to hear the grand total raised in 2010 ... $18,033!

To see more event pictures, visit our Facebook album.

Awesome Raleigh Venues: North Carolina Museum of History

We're still exploring Raleigh's coolest and most unique venues. This time, it's the North Carolina Museum of History.

The building itself is amazing. Built out of marble and glass, the museum looks sleek, clean, and elegant. Even the steps entering the building are impressive. Imagine yourself walking down these all decked out in a wedding gown, or your guests milling on the landing while they sip cocktails. Pretty great image, isn't it?

The museum allows the use of the lower level of the building for large seated receptions. Your guests walk up marble stairs and through giant glass doors to enter the lobby. This venue is the ultimate is elegance, making your guests feel like stars before they even get inside. The lobby opens up to reveal the staircase and seating area.

While the museum exhibits are usually closed after hours, you can arrange for your guests to have special access during your event. Right now the museum is featuring an exhibit of a 1920s Drugstore. The picture to the right is of an old fashioned drugstore counter. The photo opportunities are endless!

The North Carolina Museum of History is an awesome Raleigh venue, and a great place to spend an afternoon. The staff are very helpful and willing to share information and photos of past events. During my visit, they allowed me to view pictures of previous events as well as watch the set up for a wedding taking place that evening. The building is exquisite, modern and can accommodate large parties. The lobby can hold up to 200 people at a seated dinner or 500 at a standing reception.

Keep this venue in mind the next time you're in the market for an event space, or drop by when you're looking for something interesting to do on a Saturday afternoon.

For more information on renting the North Carolina Museum of History, visit their website.

Irish Vow of Unity

I'm researching traditional cultural vows for one of my clients, and came across this one:

We swear by peace and love to stand,
Heart to heart and hand to hand.
Hark, O Spirit, and hear us now,
Confirming this our Sacred Vow.

This is the Irish Vow of Unity (found at Irish Celtic Jewels).

I like this vow because it's beautiful but simple, saying everything that needs to be said without going overboard or being too gushy.

I wanted to share this with you all in case you're looking for something to add to your ceremony.

Awesome Raleigh Venues: North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences

Every city is filled with amazing museums, landmarks, parks, and garden, and Raleigh is no exception. While these places are fun to visit, they are also amazing event venues. Looking for a cool place to host a company cocktail party, wedding reception, or book release party? Before resorting to a hotel conference room, check out some of the more unique area venues, starting with this museum.

North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences

First of all, the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences is really cool to visit. Just go hang out there for an afternoon; you won't be disappointed. You'll be equally impressed with this museum as an event venue.

The Museum of Natural Sciences has four levels available for rental space. The first floor is home to the museum's oceans exhibit, complete will full whale skeletons! This long, thin room offers a spectacular space for a cocktail party or buffet line. Surrounded by ocean-scapes and aquariums, guests get to interact with the exhibit while enjoying your event. The second floor features a balcony overlooking this space, creating pretty awesome photos taken through the skeletons. We took a few here during our adventure.

A short ride up the escalator opens up an entirely different world. This floor features event space in the Mountains to the Sea exhibit. Reception tables can be set up right along the border of this exhibit, overlooking an indoor waterfall. How is cool is that? Overlooking a mountain scene while eating dinner in downtown Raleigh! The second floor continues to include the Underground North Carolina exhibit. While this area isn't really designed for events, part of the exhibit forms a natural dance floor. These two areas combined create an awesome seated reception or cocktail party space.

The third floor can be summed up in one word: DINOSAURS! The exhibits are called Terror of the South and Prehistoric North Carolina. Part of this exhibit includes a tunnel through which visitors walk to see prehistoric aquatic life. While this space isn't ideal for a seated reception, this would be a great place for a standing or cocktail reception. And, if you're looking for a unique place to take photos, this would definitely be high on that list. Between the Tyrannosaurs Rex skull, Acrocanthosaurus skeleton, and aquatic tunnel, you and your guests will have a blast exploring and snapping shots on this floor of the museum.

The fourth floor of the museum features the Living Conservatory and Anthropod Zoo exhibits. The Living Conservatory features live butterflies fluttering throughout the space. Personally, I think this really awesome, and provides a beautiful natural background for photos and events. The Anthropod Zoo exhibit is filled with interactive bug themed activities, including some live bugs in cases. For the right people and personalities, this could be a truly amazing event space.

Take some time to explore the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences when planning your next event. The museum's rental spaces allow you to throw an event requiring very little decoration, as you can use the amazing exhibits already around you. An added bonus to using these spaces is that your guests will not only get to experience your event, but also the museum exhibits at the same time. For your guests, it's like two events in one!

This article is the first of many more to come. Keep checking back for more cool venues, starting in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Visit the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences' website for more information, or call the museum for rental pricing information.

We're Now on Facebook!

Natasha F. Wayne Events is now on Facebook! Check us out for DIY wedding ideas, venue pictures, and events in the news. Got a wedding or event question? Post it and we'll answer. Share what's worked in your wedding too!

Click here for our Facebook page!

"Something New" in Etiquette: Book Review

In the past few months, I've been reading a lot of books on wedding etiquette. While they're all filled with fantastic information on how to write invitations, protocol of pre-wedding events, and appropriate attire, most are written like a textbook. This textbook feel is very discouraging to the reader. Even as a wedding planner, I'm turned off by an etiquette book that makes me feel like I'm back in college studying for an exam.

There is hope, though! I have recently finished reading Something New: Wedding Etiquette for Rule Breakers, Traditionalists, and Everyone in Between by Elise Mac Adam. Brides-to-be this is the etiquette book for you. It's short, to the point, and rooted in issues that face the modern bride. Mac Adam divides each etiquette topic into three main parts: traditional etiquette rules, the modern evolution of that rule, and letters from real brides.

The letters from real brides take this book beyond a normal etiquette text. These letters put etiquette into context, giving the reader advice based on actual situations. What's the best way to tell your guests you don't want presents when the host of your wedding thinks otherwise? As it's proper to invite all out-of-town guests to the rehearsal dinner, how do you ask your fiance's family to pay for extra people? How do you handle financial differences between families? The answers to these questions and more are answered in this book.

Brides, pick up this book for your etiquette questions and forget the textbooks.



To learn more about author Elise Mac Adam, visit her website. Image courtesy of http://elisemacadam.com/.

Even More Hollywood Glamour on a Shoestring Budget

Now that you have awesome wall and table decorations, you only need a few more things to complete your Hollywood event: a way to make your guests feel welcome and something to make them remember the night.

What better way to welcome your guests than to make them feel like movie stars? Lay out a red carpet and line it with adoring fans and camera toting paparazzi. Because no one wants real paparazzi crashing their party, here's a quick and easy way to bring the "fans" home.

Paparazzi Decoration

You'll Need:

• Black butcher/roll paper
• White chalk/pencil/crayon
• Scissors
• Red ribbon
• Aluminum foil
• Cereal boxes
• Glue
• A friend to help

How To Create:

1. Cut pieces of butcher paper long enough for a person to lay down on.
2. Work a friend to complete this step. You will lie down on the paper, and be traced by your friend with white chalk, crayon, or a pencil. You can be traced with your arms up in the air, like an applauding or cheering crowd, like the silhouette on right in the above image. You can also be traced with your hands behind your heads to create photographer paparazzi, like the silhouette on left.
3. After being traced, cut out your silhouettes.
4. For the silhouettes traced with hands behind their heads, the next step is to add flash bulbs. Create a stencil of a flash bulb out of an old cereal box. Draw a multi-pointed shape onto the box. The shape doesn't have to be perfect, and the flash bulbs don't all have to look alike. Cut out the shape, and cover with glue. Paste to a sheet of aluminum foil. Trim off any extra foil, or wrap extra around the back of shape. Then paste the bulb shapes onto the silhouette faces, as if the person were holding a camera and taking a picture.
5. Affix to the walls and tack a red ribbon in front of the silhouettes to create the illusion of a crowd watching your guests pass by.

You brought your guests in style, so you should send them out the same way. Here are some ideas for movie themed favors to send home with your stars.

• When I think of movies, I immediately think of popcorn. Gourmet popcorn can be expensive, sometimes starting at as much as $20.00 per container. A quick search of AllRecipes.com gave me list of gourmet popcorn options ranging from chocolate to caramel to nacho flavored popcorn. Make up a batch of your own special popcorn and package in a white paper bag for guests to munch on later.
• Personalized awards are a great favor, and can add extra entertainment to the party. Oriental Trading carries a wide selection of mini trophies that can be purchased in bulk. After purchasing the trophies, use a gold or silver paint pen to personalize the awards to your guests. During the party, present the awards in Oscar Night fashion.
• No time to make a favor? No problem. Most large retail stores like Target and Wal-mart now regularly stock movie theater candy. Purchase an assortment of candy like Junior Mints, Sour Patch Kids, Mike & Ikes and Twizzlers. Pair with a bag of microwave popcorn and $5 movie rental gift card and you have a great gift. This option will be a little more expensive than the others, but will be a big time saver.

You're all set for a great Hollywood event! From start to finish, your guests will receive the star treatment. Even better, you'll have thrown a terrific party without breaking the bank because Hollywood style doesn't have to cost a Hollywood fortune.

Tried and Tested Recipe: Sorbet Bombe

I found this recipe in the new Martha Stewart Weddings Magazine, Summer Edition. The recipe is for Sorbet Bombe, a do-it-yourself "cake" made of sorbet. It looked delicious in the magazine, so I gave it a try. This is a great recipe not only for a wedding reception but for your next summer barbecue or afternoon tea, too.

I've included the recipe here with a few notes from my own experience:

Ingredients:
Serves 8 to 12 (from one 10-cup mold)

• 3 pints peach sorbet
• 2 pints coconut sorbet
  I chose to use mango and raspberry Ciao Bella Sorbet that I found at Harris Teeter. I also used a three cup mold for my first try at this recipe. Using a three cup mold, I only needed a pint of each sorbet flavor.

Directions:

1. Soften peach sorbet by beating in a mixer bowl until smooth. Immediately spread into bottom and up sides of a 10-cup mold or bowl. Freeze until firm, about 1 hour.
   I don't have a hand mixer, so I used my stand mixer instead. Word to the wise, use the cover when beating the sorbet. Also beat the sorbet in small batches before transferring to the mold. The stand mixer heats the sorbet very fast and causes it to become overly melted quickly. To counter act this, I put the mold in the freezer while I beat the second batch of mango sorbet (about 10 minutes). In total, I need two batches of mango sorbet for cover the outer layer of the mold.
   
   
2. Soften coconut sorbet in mixer; pack into center of mold; smooth top of bombe. Cover with plastic wrap, and freeze overnight, or up to 1 week. (To create a layered bombe, measure the amount of water your mold will hold to determine how much sorbet you will need. Spread the first layer into bottom of mold and smooth; freeze until firm, about 1 hour. Then add the next layer, freeze again, and repeat.)
   For the second layer of my bombe I used raspberry sorbet. I followed the same process as in Step 1. I found that, because I had froze the sorbet between batches when putting in the mango, I didn't need to freeze the mango layer for a full hour before adding the raspberry. About 20 minutes was all it took to harden the mango enough to add the raspberry sorbet. I also added an extra layer of mango sorbet to the very top of the mold. I wrapped mine in foil, then in a gallon size plastic zip bag to prevent freezer burn.
   
   
3. To unmold, dip mold in hot water to slightly melt outer layer. Invert onto a cake stand, and remove mold. Serve, or return to the freezer for up to 8 hours.
   
   
4. To serve, cut into slices with a knife (if necessary, dip knife in warm water for easier cutting).
   I had a hard time unmolding my bombe. The outer layer melted too much, causing the outside to look runny and not show the mold design. I needed to serve part of my sorbet to guests immediately, so I cut and plated each piece and popped each plate back in the freezer for five minutes. The plates had a little extra sorbet on them, so I wiped that off with a napkin and served. My guests loved it and never knew it was supposed to have design.
   

Image and recipe courtesy of http://www.marthastewartweddings.com/recipe/sorbet-bombe.

More Hollywood Style, Still No Hollywood Price Tag

Plan on serving food at your Hollywood party? Try this quick and easy centerpiece idea to add inexpensive flair to your dinner tables or buffet line. Dinner not on the menu? No problem! This idea can easily be used as a wall decoration, too.

Hollywood Star Centerpiece

You'll need:

• Black foam core or poster board
• Yard stick/straight edge
• Pencil
• Black marker
• Red paper
• Circle shape to trace, at least 8 inches in diameter
• Gold spray paint
• Rubber cement glue
• Pictures of famous actors and actresses
• Gold paint pen

How To Create:

1. Cut foam core or poster board into 12 inch by 12 inch squares to make the base of the Hollywood Star.


2. Trace circle shape onto red paper and cut out circle.


3. Paste red circle to the center of black square.


4. Place Star Stencil (see below for how to create) in the center of the red circle, so that the corners of the stars are as close to the edges of the circle as possible. Fill in Star shape with gold spray paint. I recommend using spray paint because it dries quickly and evenly.


5. After paint and glue have dried, glue pictures of actors and actresses in the center of the gold star. These can be printed off of the Internet or taken from your favorite magazine.


6. Paint the actor/actress’s name in the black area above the star with gold paint pen. Add additional embellishments like facts about the actor in the points around the gold star.
   
   
7. For table top decorations, repeat Steps 1-6 on the opposite side of the foam core.
   


8. Hollywood Stars can be mounted on walls or made to stand on tabletops. For tabletops, it’s best to use foam core. To make Stars stand, cut slits on the bottom of the foam core about 1 inch in from each side of the square. Cut 3 inch long x 2 inch tall rectangles to act as stands for the star. Fit the stands into the slits on the square. Note: the slits on the square may need to be widened to fit the stands into them; that’s ok. The end result should be a square that will stand on it’s own on your table.

Now that you have awesome entrance way and centerpiece decorations, all you need are memorable favors to send your guests away with. Check back for the last article of this series for fun favor ideas to add to your next Hollywood party.

A Planner's Library Must Have

Emily Post's Wedding Etiquette, Fifth Edition

The subtitle of Emily Post's Wedding Etiquette, Fifth Edition, by Peggy Post, is "the definitive guide to your wedding experience". While most subtitles are just meant to catch your attention, this one is actually true. This book covers everything from engagement etiquette to how a receiving line should be arranged to appropriate cake cutting methods.

I was most impressed with how current the fifth edition of Emily Post's Wedding Etiquette is. For every stage of the planning, it gives advice on possibly complicated family situations. Questions regarding how to politely address divorced and remarried parents, grandparents, or close extended family have cropped up in the weddings of nearly every one of my friends and clients. This book has the answers to many of the hard questions, like these:

• How should you seat divorced parents of the groom? According to Peggy Post, the groom's mother and her close family should sit in the front pew while the father of the groom and his close family should sit in the third or fourth pew back. If the groom's parents are divorced but on good terms, they can both sit in the first pew. (Page 352)
• Can the bride's stepfather walk her down the aisle? While the ultimate decision of who will give her away is the bride's, it is acceptable for the bride's stepfather to walk her down the aisle. She could even have both her biological father and step-father escort her. (Page 353)

In keeping with the times, the fifth edition Wedding Etiquette also includes proper ways to use technology in planning your big day. While email has become an accepted method of communication in almost every aspect of life, Peggy Post insists that there are times in your wedding planning when email is and isn't appropriate:

• Can I email my "Save the Date" notices, or do they have to mailed? "Save the Date" notices can be emailed, as can invitations to informal or casual engagement parties and bridal showers. Ceremony and reception invitations should never be emailed. (Page 170)
  
• Is it improper to allow my guests to RSVP by email? You can allow guests to RSVP by email, but be sure to that guests who don't use email have an address to mail their RSVPs to. (Page 170)
  
• Can thank you notes be emailed? Thank you notes should always be a handwritten note, even if you've fallen behind in your note writing. A late note is still more acceptable than an email. (Page 169)

Anyone planning a wedding needs this book. Whether you're a bridesmaid, parent, or the happy couple, invest in this book. It'll be invaluable in your planning. Ultimately, you want everyone to have a great time at your wedding, feeling comfortable and accepted. This book will help you accomplish your goal; it's your go-to guide for answering tricky questions.

To purchase this or other etiquette books, visit the Emily Post Weddings website.


Image courtesy of http://weddings.emilypost.com/etiquette/index.htm.

Hollywood Style without the Hollywood Price Tag

Hollywood is classy, glamorous, and exciting...everything you want your next party to be! This is one of a series of three articles of ideas to add glitz and glam to a film-themed event, whether it's an Oscar party or a girls' movie night in. These ideas will help you create a Hollywood hit of a party without the Hollywood price tag.

Marquee Decoration

You'll need:

• White butcher/roll paper
• Yard stick/straight edge
• Black marker
• Black paint
• Pencil
• Gold paint
• Wooden stars
• Rubber cement glue

How To Create:

1. Cut butcher paper to 6 foot length using a straight edge and pencil.


2. Measure 6 inches in from each side of the butcher paper and draw a vertical line.


3. Measure over another 3 inches and draw a vertical line to create the bars on both sides of the marquee. Fill in the bar with black marker or black paint.


4. Measure 6 inches from the top of the butcher paper and draw a horizontal line connecting the two bars. Measure down 3 inches from that line and draw a matching horizontal line. Do this one more time to create the marquee “Now Showing” lines. Go over these lines with black marker.


5. Write in “NOW SHOWING” on marquee lines. Fill in space below lines with information about your event. If you're throwing a party at home, list the names of your guests. For a movie night, list the films you'll be watching.


6. Decorate the marquee with wooden stars (purchased at a craft store), spray painted gold and glued to the banner.

Hang your banner over a doorway or on a prominent wall in your event. This idea will make a big impact on your event without making a big hole in your budget. Check back for ideas on centerpieces and party favors.

The Wedding's for You, but the Reception's for Your Guests

Everyone always says that a wedding is all about the bride and groom. While this is true, the reception is not. The reception is the party you are throwing for your guests to share in your wedding celebration. As such, keep your guests and their happiness in mind when planning your reception. While there are millions of ways to do this, the easiest is to create an atmosphere in which everyone feels accepted and comfortable.

Seating charts are an extra step in the planning process but can really make a difference to your guests. While you will want to share your big day with everyone close to you, these people may not be close to each other. Your high school best friend may not know your college roommates. Your college roommates may never have met your out-of-state cousins. Being the person who doesn't know anyone at your wedding will make your guest feel awkward and uncomfortable, rather than happy and welcomed. By creating a seating chart, you can help create new friendships between your family and friends from different social circles. Seating people together who have common interests will give them something to talk about and help everyone feel included in your celebration.

You could even go one step further to help people get to know each other by naming each table on place cards. If your Aunt Sue is a veterinarian and your college roommate Jackie loves dogs, print "Pet Lover's Table" under their names on their place cards. This will automatically give these two guests a common topic from which to start a conversation. Be creative with how you let others know the shared interests of the people you seat them with.

Also, keep your guests in mind when placing your head table. Head tables are designed to make the members of the bridal party the center of attention by placing them as the focal point of the room. However, this arrangement can also make the bridal party feel distant and unapproachable. Some couples choose not to have a head table, deciding instead to sit among their guests. While solving the problem of the bridal party feeling unapproachable, sitting among the guests could cause hurt feelings in those who's tables don't have a member of the bridal party seated at them.

An alternative option would be to have a head table placed in an easily visible and accessible area of the reception. For example, I attended a wedding recently in which the head table was placed along the side of the dance floor, overlooking dancing guests, with the D.J. set up on the opposite side. Guest tables were arrange along the opposite sides of the floor. The end result was one the created a community feeling around the dance floor where guests could enjoy dancing and conversing with the bridal party at the same time. Guest table areas then became places for conversation and reminiscing amongst guests. Guests felt free to move between both areas of the reception because neither space as clearly defined and both felt open and welcoming.

However you decide to seat your guests, remember that ultimately the wedding reception is as much about your guests as it is about you and your new spouse. You'll want to take steps to ensure that everyone feels comfortable enough to have a good time and remember your reception as fondly as you will.

Keep Your 'Maids in Mind...And Be Kind

While the bride and groom are the center of attention at any wedding, everyone wants to share in their joy by looking their best. Everyone from guests to ushers will want to pull out their Sunday finest for your wedding, and this includes your bridesmaids.

We've all seen those bridesmaid dresses that made us think "that poor girl", then make our best friends promise us that they'll never put us in a dress like that one. The dresses worn by Katherine Heigel's character in 27 Dresses are perfect examples of these. When planning your wedding, keep your bridesmaids in mind. Even though it's your day, they're just as involved and passionate about your wedding as you are.

When deciding on bridesmaid attire, there are simple ways to help everyone look and feel gorgeous and confident as they stand at the alter with you. Here are a few tips to keep in mind when shopping:

• No Two Women are Shaped the Same: Not all your bridesmaids have the same body type and shape, so one dress style won't look good on all of them. Fuller figured girls may feel uncomfortable in spaghetti strap or strapless dresses. Some of your bridesmaids may prefer a more reserved neckline, while others may want a shorter hemline. There's no one dress that can fit the needs of every woman's body type but allowing bridesmaids to pick dresses of different styles within your color scheme will help everyone look amazing and feel confident in pictures.


• Two Parts are Better Than One: Sometimes a dress is not an option at all. Oftentimes, a woman can wear several sizes depending on where she's measured. She may have a size 12 waist but a size 16 bust, which makes dress shopping stressful and upsetting. Separate tops and bottoms are now available in most bridal salons, and allow bridesmaids to find a more customized fit. David's Bridal offers separates, and an online tool to give you an idea of the look options available.
  
  
• Be Kind: Most importantly, be kind when dressing your 'maids. Your wedding is your big day, but your bridesmaids want to look and feel beautiful as they share in your celebration. Don't dress your bridesmaids in something you won't be caught dead in; it's likely they won't want to be either. Show your bridesmaids how happy you are to have them in your wedding by allowing them to wear something they'll be proud to stand next to you in. They'll remember your kindness and return the favor during their own weddings.

By keeping these tips in mind when shopping for their wedding attire, your bridesmaids will be as beautiful and confident as they've ever been as they stand beside you at the alter, creating a wonderful memory for them and for you.

Image found at Fandango.com, as well as more information on Katherine Heigel's 27 Dresses.

Magnetic Save-The-Date Cards

Save-the-date cards have become a standard part of wedding planning. According to Emily Post's Wedding Etiquette, Fifth Edition (copyright 2006), save-the-date cards are for "giving advance notice of an upcoming wedding [and] can be very helpful to guests who must make travel plans" (p.142). Though traditionally printed on postcard or single sided invitation card, save-the-date cards have recently undergone a magnetic transformation.

Save-the-date cards printed on magnets have become really popular lately. And it makes perfect sense! Who can keep track of a single sided invitation or postcard? No one, honestly. A magnet will be stuck right to your guests' refrigerators as soon as they come in the mail and be seen every time they grab a snack.

While magnetic save-the-dates are a really practical idea, ordering these from a professional printing service can cost a small fortune. Some online stores sell them for as much as $1.49 each, with a minimum order of 100. For the bride on a budget, this is simply out of the question. However, magnetic save-the-dates can easily be made at home.

You can purchase blank sheets of magnetic paper from most office supply stores. Avery offers such a product for ink jet users that can be found at Staples. Once you have the magnetic sheets, you simply need to design your save-the-date card in Publisher or another design software on your computer, like this one done by some friends of mine. Be sure to include the wording "Save the Date", the names of the bride and groom, the date of the wedding, and the location if you've decided on it. Dress up the magnet with images that represent you and your groom, making them both decorative and informative. Print several to a sheet, cut apart, and mail.

You'll have created not only a save-the-date card, but also a small keepsake from your wedding. Your guests will love how practical your save-the-dates are, and you'll love stretching your budget while still having a fun and interesting way to announce your big day.

Out of the Box Easter Baskets

Every Spring, local department stores and supermarkets are overrun with bunnies, chicks, pastel candies, and eggs in preparation for Easter. While most of the gift items available are meant for kids, Easter baskets don't have to be exclusively children's gifts. Adult Easter baskets are just as easy to put together as those for kids, and are equally appreciated. You just have to think outside of the box...and beyond your grocery store's Easter aisle. Here are some easy Easter basket ideas for the grown ups, or grown-up kids, in your life.

• For the Coffee Lover: We all have that friend who can't function without a cup-a-joe in the morning. Making an Easter basket for this friend is snap. Begin filling a medium sized basket with large bags of flavored or imported coffees. World Market has a wonderful selection of these in their stores. Usually two will fit nicely inside a medium basket. Pick a mug that fits your friend, and nestle it between the two bags. Had some height with pre-packaged biscotti arranged inside the mug. Add a gift card to a local coffee house and a bag of chocolate covered coffee beans to complete the gift. This basket can be easily converted to a "Tea Lover's" gift by exchanging the bags of coffee for imported teas, and the chocolate coffee beans for chocolate covered shortbread.


• For the Spring Gardener: If you have a friend with a green thumb, use a widemouthed watering can instead of a basket for your Easter gift. Pop in Spring colored gardening gloves. Add seeds for herbs, flowers, and hearty veggies that grow well in your area. Be sure to do a little research on what grows well in your climate; nothing will ruin this gift faster than seeds that won't grow. Include a small gardening book of hints and tips, and some sunblock for those long gardening afternoons to finish the gift.


• For the Friend On-the-Go: We all have that friend that never stops moving. The best gift for this friend is relaxation. Start your medium size Easter basket with bath salts and bubble bath, possibly aromatherapy. I recommend things with lavender or mint in them. Add a candle or two, and a small box of matches. Dress up the matches by covering the box with festive contact paper or a pastel bow. Top off the basket with a bath pillow or eye mask, and you're set!
  
  
• For a Afternoon Outing: As Spring has officially sprung, why not give a gift to get your friend outside and enjoying the gorgeous weather? This basket can't be prepared too far in advance, but will be a big hit. Go to your local specialty foods store the morning before you plan to give your basket. Purchase a loaf of nice bread, and have it sliced by the baker. Choose an assortments of spreads that don't need to be refrigerated. Place these in your basket, along with a bottle of wine. Add an assortment of seasonal fruits or a pre-made fruit salad to complete the meal. Finish the basket with a few napkins and prepackaged silverware hid in the bottom, and send your friend out on a lovely afternoon picnic.

For all your baskets, use shredded colored paper for filler instead of store-bought plastic Easter grass. It's pet safe, can be easily recycled, and will save you money that can be used to add an extra surprise to your gift. To wrap your basket, use cello basket bags (found in the stationary section of most stores) or tulle and close with a festive bow.

Keep in mind, these Easter basket ideas can be used for really any holiday or gift giving occasion. Just change the way you wrap it up, and you have a whole new gift for Christmas, birthdays, housewarmings...anything really!

On the Hunt for A New Party Idea

Recently, I have encountered a surprising number of people looking for fun and different birthday party ideas for pre-teens. Pre-teens are a particularly hard group to throw organized parties for. They're too old for the parties themed around movies and television shows, but too young for less organized get-togethers. Keeping this age group entertained and giving them a birthday party they'll love is a challenge, but not impossible. Scavenger Hunts have become really popular recently, especially at malls. They're super easy to arrange and kids love them!

This party takes a little bit of advance preparation. Decide on the mall that you'd like to hold the Scavenger Hunt in. Visit that mall a few days before the party date to get a "lay of the land", so to speak. Go into the stores that you'd like to have listed on the Hunt. Get an idea of what products are currently available for purchase. You're looking for small, low cost items that the kids participating will have to really look around for. Make a list of these items, noting what's around the item and some of it's noticeable characteristics. Gauge the number of items on your Hunt, as well as the stores you find them in, by the number and age of the kids participating. Also, take note of how much each item costs. Take your list home and create riddles and turn-a-phrases about each item to make your Scavenger Hunt Riddles List.

On the day of the party, have all the kids meet at the food court of the mall. Arrange in advance for a few parents to stay with the group to help you out. When all the kids have arrived, have them get into teams and hand out copies of your Riddles List. Assign a parent to each team and give the parents enough money to cover purchasing items on your list.

Now, I know that this might seem like a turn off, suggesting purchaseing the items on your Riddles List. Some people have tried photographing the items on their lists, but this is a bad idea. Companies have copyrights on the label designs for all their products. Photographing these items is a violation of those copyrights, and infuriates store employees. You want this it be a fun experience for the kids, not one that causes them to get into trouble or yelled at. To ensure the kids have the best experience possible, choose items with small price tags and instruct the teams to purchase the items that answer the riddles on their lists.

Once the kids are in teams with their riddles, and their parent leader is equipped with the team's money, you're ready to start. Send the teams off in different directions, with instructions that the first team back to the starting location wins the Hunt. When the Hunt is over, allow the teams to split up their purchases to keep as party favors. End the party with lunch at a local restaurant or ice cream at the mall's food court. The kids will have a blast, with very little stress for you!

Party Foul: Don't Let the Whistle Be Blown on Your Next Get Together

We've all been to a party where red wine ruined the hostess' new cream carpeting, or brought veggies to a potluck just to realize they're ice cold by the time you serve them. Don't worry, these "party fouls" happen to all of us once in a while. But they don't have to keep happening.

For Christmas I was given a book called Heloise Hints for All Occasions, copyright 1995 by The Hearst Corporation. This book is amazing! It has tips and hints for everything you could think of when planning for a special occasion. From pre-party planning, to cooking for a crowd, to special gift ideas - it's got it all! Pick this book up on Amazon or at a local used book store; it'll be a life safer at your next party and save you from those embarrassing party fouls.

To give you a taste of the ideas in this book, I've included a few hints that will help with some common party fouls:

• A glass of red wine was spilt on my new tablecloth. How can I save it?
  Heloise says "pour salt on the stain to absorb the liquid...remove the tablecloth, let it soak in cold water" then "rinse and wash as usual" (p. 99).
  I've also seen this work on carpet, too. Red wine was spilled on an expensive rug at a party I attended. The hostess covered the spot with salt, and let it sit. When she cleaned up the salt, it had absorbed most of the stain and she simply cleaned up the rest with soap and water.
  
  
• My apple pie recipe calls for cups but they're only sold in pounds.
  According to Heloise, for "apples: 1 pound equals about 3 medium or 3 cups sliced" (p.17). This isn't the only measurement hint in Heloise's book. She covers everything from fruit to coffee to flour.
  
  
• My daughter's birthday party is today, and I forgot to buy gift wrap!
  Heloise suggests that you "save the shiny helium balloons you receive for birthdays...and then use them for gift wrap after they deflate. Carefully slit the edge of the balloon to make an opening large enough to insert the gift, then realign the open edges and tape them shut with transparent tape" (p. 125).
  
  
• It's my turn to bring veggies to our family potluck, but they never seem to stay hot.
  When transporting hot vegetables, Heloise suggests you "put the hot vegetables into a wide-mouth half-gallon thermos" (p.65).

I have fallen in love with the handy tips in this book. I recommend it to anyone planning a party, be it a small dinner gathering or an anniversary party for 200 guests. You'll find everything you need to know to keep the whistle from being blown on your next get together.


Image found at www.heloise.com/booksocc.html.

"Budget" Isn't a Four Letter Word

Let's face it - nobody likes to talk about money. It seems like no matter who you are, there's never enough to do everything you want when you want to do it. This is especially true when planning a wedding.

But, money is a fact of life and talking about it is necessary...especially when planning a wedding. Knowing your limits up front will save you hundreds of headaches down the road. Avoiding the topic will undoubtedly end in disaster.

So, here are a few tips to ease the financial stress surrounding your wedding planning:

1. Honesty is the best policy: It sounds like a cliche, but it's true. Be honest with yourself when making your initial budget. Don't allot $2700 to your dress budget when you know that you can realistically afford $700. Also, be honest with your wedding planner. Part of her job is to help you achieve your wedding dreams while remaining in your budget. There's really no reason not be honest with her; it'll work out in your favor in the end.
   
   
2. Hire a planner: If you're working on a tight budget, hiring a planner may seem frivolous and unnecessary. Actually, a wedding planner is exactly what you need. Planners have been in the business long enough to have made many, many contacts in the area and will be able to negotiate better deals than an individual can. This is because they work in volume; wedding vendors are more likely to strike a bargain with someone who can bring them a dozen weddings over someone who can only bring them one. Wedding planners offer a variety of packages to fit every budget and need, ranging from simply allowing brides access to their preferred vendor list to partnering with a bride to plan a wedding from start to finish. For more information on the benefits of hiring a wedding planner, check out this article from WedAlert.com.
   
   
3. Budgets are guidelines, not law: The purpose of budget is to get all your expenses down on paper so you can see and prioritize them. This does not mean that you can't change your mind, or that surprise expense won't come up that force a change. To get an idea of what you'll be spending your wedding budget on, fill in this worksheet from Real Simple Weddings Magazine. It includes a lot of details that people often forget to allot money to (like postage for mailing your save-the-date cards and invitations) that lead to big surprises along the way.
   
   
4. It's not about giving up, it's about spending smart: Oftentimes people assume that working within a budget automatically means that you're going to have to do without something. That's not true! You just have to spend smarter. Instead of buying your favors, make them. Have a friend bake and decorate your wedding cake, rather than hiring a bakery. Use a student from a local art school as your photographer instead of hiring a professional. Your wedding planner can help here too. She knows endless ways to give you the wedding of your dreams while spending smart.

I hope these few tips will help you as you start to budget for your wedding. Remember, budget isn't a four letter word. Talking about your budget, and talking about it often, will lead to the wedding you want...without putting you in the poor house.

Elegant Weddings Gala

I went to Cary Magazine's Elegant Weddings Gala on Thursday, March 4th, and I have to say it was really a treat. The atmosphere was wonderful and relaxed. The Umstead Hotel and Spa in Cary, where it was held, was beautiful and the hotel's staff were incredibly helpful and polite. I loved this bridal vendor event because the event's atmosphere made me feel like me and the brides I represent were the most important people at the event, as though the wedding I am currently working on was the only one that truly mattered. For all you brides-to-be out there, I really recommend going to this event next year. You'll be very pleased!

Mad About The Hatter

With the new Tim Burton Alice in Wonderland film hitting theaters on Friday, I can't help but get in the spirit. (To be honest, getting into the spirit isn't hard because I can't wait to see it!) Anyway, what better way to get in the spirit than to throw a party?

Here are a few ideas for a Mad Hatter Tea Party, based on a fundraiser I ran to raise money for a college scholarship fund. This committee-run event originally catered to 200 people, but the ideas can easily be used for an event of any size.

The best thing about a "Mad Hatter Tea Party" theme is that nothing has to match. It is a mad tea party after all! This is awesome because it's a money saver and makes preparing for the event so much fun. Because you don't have to be concerned with matching patterns, you can pick up your paper products and table coverings just about anywhere. Get them on sale when you can. We chose to use spotted tablecloths over top solid cloths. For paper products, we went shopping and grabbed just about everything we could find. Purple cups; yellow and pink plates; blue forks; green napkins - lots of mixing and very little matching. Now, I realize that this might sound like a big visual mess, but the hodge-podge actually made it more interesting. And we saved a ton because we bought in bulk and were able to pick things up anywhere, regardless of color or pattern.

For centerpieces, we made tea cups from old cardboard boxes that we painted in all the colors of the rainbow and accented with playing cards. If you don't have time to create your centerpieces by hand, over sized teacups can easily be purchased, most likely at a local garden center. We added color to the walls of our space by stringing up multicolored lights that we borrowed from our holiday decorations, along with garlands we made out of playing cards. These were incredibly inexpensive to make as we purchased the playing cards in bulk from the online distributor, Oriental Trading. For other decorations, we simply used poker themed items, as the Queen of Hearts is such an iconic figure from Alice in Wonderland. Bonus to this is that poker themed items are easy to find just about anywhere.

Food for a party like this is super easy. You could serve traditional tea party foods like cucumber sandwiches, scones, and shortbread. Or you could go "mad" and serve your favorite foods be they tacos and popcorn, or pizza and mac and cheese. The beauty of this party theme is that you can do whatever you want, and that goes for the food too. But, the Mad Hatter Tea Party is also an Un-Birthday Party, so don't forget the Un-Birthday cake.

Get everyone into the spirit by asking your guests to dress up as their favorite Alice in Wonderland character. Or offer them crazy hats or crowns when they arrive. We gave our staff multi-colored paper accordion hats, similar to the one worn by the Cat in the Hat. People loved them!

As party favors, we filled inexpensive mugs with a variety of individually wrapped tea bags. We bought our mugs in bulk because we needed so many, but you could easily go to local thrift stores and pick up teacups and saucers. Just like everything else with this theme, they don't have to match. Get creative! Decks of playing cards would also make great party favors.

Have fun with your own zany Mad Hatter Tea party. Throw this quick to plan, inexpensive party, then go have a blast watching Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland with your friends.

Skipping the Guest Book & Keeping the Love

Guest books are a staple of most weddings. Traditionally, they've been used as a way for guests to share their feelings of happiness and love with the bride and groom during their wedding day. The book is then kept as a keepsake for years to come.

While this is a great way for guests to wish the newlyweds well, guest books can be very expensive. Personalized ones can run more than $50.00 a piece! For a couple on a budget, this would be an easy way to save money. But, just because you don't have a guest book, doesn't mean your guests can't still share their love with you.

Try this idea, borrowed from my best friend's wedding in Holly Springs, North Carolina. She incorporated her version of a guest book directly into her place settings. Every place was set with silverware, a lined sheet of green paper, a wedding program, a pen, and a candy bar.

The candy bar and pen were favors, but the pen also allowed guests to fill in their green lined paper. The green sheet requested that each guest "please share your best wishes and advice for the couple as they start their life together". Guests used the sheet to wish the couple well, remember happy times spent together, and celebrate the couple's love.

Sheets were collected at the cake table throughout the reception. The bride's mother and aunt collected the sheets after the reception, and kept them safe for the couple during their honeymoon. After her honeymoon, the bride used the sheets and pictures from the wedding to create her own memory book. She matched the sheets with the pictures of the people who wrote them, then bound everything in a scrapbook. This way, when she and her husband look back at their wedding memories, they have more than just the words of love from their friends, but also a face to match with those words.

The bride was able to print all the guest sheets on her own computer, using paper that matched her wedding colors. Using sheets allowed her guests more room to express themselves while helping her stay in budget. Matching pens with the sheets added function to her favors, ensuring that all her guests could take part in the fun. This pocketbook-friendly idea creates a keepsake you'll treasure for years to come.

Stress Free is the Way to Be

Tips for Dress Shopping without Losing Your Sanity

Hey all you Brides-To-Be out there! We all know your dress is one of the focal points of your wedding. You want it to make you feel like a princess, and it'll be one of the most memorable elements of your big day. However, it can also be one of the most stressful parts of your wedding prep.

But - it doesn't have to be! I haven't been in the wedding business long, but I've picked up a few tips to de-stress your dress:

1. Do your research: I know, I know - that word "research" doesn't sound appealing at all. Actually, it sounds down right boring. But this research will be fun! I mean, you're looking at wedding gowns - how can that be boring? Purchase some wedding fashion magazines. This time of year, I recommend "The Knot" Fashion Issue. And don't let the price tag of this publication discourage you - the headaches you'll save yourself are well worth it. You can find it at most bookstores, and as well as at the link above. Flip through your new wedding fashion magazine with a pen and sticky notes handy. Mark all the dresses that catch your eye with a sticky, and write down what made it stick out. Write down all your initial thoughts: "like this bodice, hate the skirt"; "like the layers, maybe less frilly?"; etc. All these notes will help you narrow down your choices when you go shopping.


2. Find stores in your area: Everyone knows about the big chain and boutique bridal stores; I'm sure you can think of at least two or three right now. It's possible you pass them every day on your way to work. But, if you're a bride on a budget these may not be the best options for you. Look for local wedding consignment and bargain stores in your area. There are tons around; they just take a little hunting to find. These stores often take in dresses that have only been used once, and some that have never been worn at all. These stores often pride themselves on staying up to date with current fashions, so don't worry about only finding dresses that your great-grandmother would have worn.


3. Go hunting: Go to both the big chain stores and the consignment/bargain stores. Be sure to take your sticky-noted magazine along with you. Use it to remind yourself of things you do and don't like, and to narrow down your choices.


4. Take things slow: It's really unlikely that you'll find you're prefect dress on your first shopping adventure. If you do, CONGRATS - that's awesome!!! If not, that's ok. Don't go into your trip expecting to find a dress the first time you look. It'll only drive you crazy, and that's stress that could easily be avoided.


5. Remember that it's YOUR dress: Lots of people are going to want to help you buy your dress. After all, it's a centerpiece of the wedding. While I encourage you take people along who's opinions matter to you, remember that it's still your dress. Don't try to please the people you're shopping with, letting their ideas mean more than yours. If you don't love it, don't buy it because someone else does. It's your day - make yourself happy.

These are just a few tips I've picked up so far. Shopping for your dress should be an adventure, not a chore. Have fun and don't stress!

Fortune Cookies

I believe in getting the best value for your dollar when planning events, which oftentimes means doing things yourself. Now, I have to admit, I'm not a terribly crafty person. But I did find a really easy way to make cool favors with stuff I already had in my house. Inexpensive, fun, and cute - a perfect combination for any event!

I found this Fortune Cookie recipe on AllRecipes.com, and decided to try it out for a dinner party I was throwing. The first thing I did was to write the fortunes. Actually, my friend and I wrote them, putting silly messages like "You're jeans look very sassy today" and "You're AWESOME" on them. After finishing the fortunes (which took about 20 minutes because we were so amused with ourselves that half that time we spent laughing hysterically), we followed the recipe as posted. Everything came together pretty easily, though we did find out a few things that might be helpful.


The fortunes went into the cookies easily, but we found that the paper fortunes ended up sticking to the cookies when they dried. To avoid this, we used a spoon handle to create a center in the cookie. While the dough was still hot, we folded the dough in half around the spoon, then in half around the spoon in the opposite direction. This created enough space for us to slip the folded fortune into after the cookie had cooled. We also didn't have a muffin tin to put our cookies in while they cooled. Instead we used a tea cup. It worked just as well, and allowed us to stack the cookies on top of one another.

This Fortune Cookie recipe can easily be used to create simple, fun favors for a wedding. If you want your favors to match your wedding decor, simply drop a little food coloring to your dough to change the color of the cookies. It's safe to eat and will add that extra touch to your special day. For the fortunes inside, print slips of paper with your wedding date and a small thank you to your guests. Everyone will appreciate that you thought of them in such a unique way. Coating one side in chocolate is another interesting addition to your favors. Add some sprinkles to your chocolate coating to add extra color. Any of these ideas will give you an amazing favor with a personal touch, while helping you save some dough for other things.